Textile treatment beam



Nov. 10, 1959 M. N.' CARROLL ETAL 2,912,298

TEXTILE TREATMENT BEAM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 18. 1954 INVENTORS M N. Cmveou Nov. 10, 1959 M. N. CARROLL ETAL 2,912,298

TEXTILE TREATMENT BEAM Filed Oct. 18. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 INVENTOR.

T l v MN 1422041. /l/l} 22 y wM/(gwmray United States Patent 9 TEXTILE TREATMENT BEAM Murray N. Carroll, Short Hills, and William M. Kennedy, East Orange, N.J., assignors to Celanese Corporation of America, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 18, 1954, Serial No. 462,878

15 Claims. (Cl. 8154) This invention relates to a beam and is more particularly concerned with a beam adapted to support a textile fabric during processing thereof with a fluid.

It is frequently desirable to carry out the processing of a textile fabric with a fluid while the said fabric is wound on a beam. Treatments that may be effected in this manner include, for example, the dyeing, setting and washing of the fabric at atmospheric or superatmospheric pressures. The fabric may, for example, be a knitted or a woven fabric. During such treatments great difliculty is frequently experienced with the shrinkage and particularly the non-uniform shrinkage of the fabric. ,Such shrinkage not only interferes with the processing of the fabric, but also leads to a finished product having non-uniform shrinkage characteristics which is undesirable -in commercial use. In addition, the movement of the fluid through the textile fabric, particularly at high pressures, may cause the windings of said fabric'to shift relative to each other with the result that the processing may become non-uniform.

It is an important object of this invention to provide afbeam adapted to support a textile fabric during processing thereof with a fluid which will be free from the foregoing and other disadvantages.

A further object of this invention is to provide a beam adapted to support a textile fabric, during processing thereof with a fluid, which will engage the edges of said fabric and thereby keep the same from shrinking or sh f Qther objects of this invention, together with certain details of construction and combinations of parts, will be apparent from the following detailed description and claims.

According to the present invention, there is provided a beam comprising a supporting member onto which the textile fabric is evenly wound to form a roll. Flanges are secured ,to the supporting member adjacent the ends of the fabric roll, which flanges are provided with movable means for engaging the edges of the fabric in said roll and holding them securely. Throughout the subsequent processing of the said fabric with a fluid, the fabric is prevented from shrinking or shifting so that the procesSing will be effected in a highly uniform manner. After the processing is complete, the movable means are operated .to release the edges of the fabric whereby the said fabric may be readily removed from the beam.

Advantageously, to engage the edges of the fabric, the flanges may be provided with movable sections carrying a plurality of parallel pins that are inclined at an acute angle to the inner surfaces of the flanges and which movable sections may be so positioned that the pins, will clear the edges of the fabric roll. 1 In addition, means are provided to move said sections along a line parallel to. the axes of the pins and towardsthe fabric roll whereby the pins will enter the edges of the fabric roll and engage the edges of all the layers of fabric posiely- The pm essing o he. fab ic an then take P e without shrinkage or shifting of the fabric. Following ice , the processing, the movable sections are operated to withdraw the pins from the fabric roll along a line parallel'to their axes, releasing the edges of the fabric and permitting the fabric to be unwound from the beam.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the beam, v

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view, on a somewhat enlarged scale, taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. l in the direction of the arrows, A

Fig. 3 is a detail cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 3-3 on Fig. l in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 4 is a detail cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows. 1

Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference numeral 11 designates a tubular metal beam provided with a plurality of perforations 12 extending therethrough, onto which beam 11 there is adapted to be wrapped a textile fabric 13 to form a cylindrical roll with parallel sides. After the textile fabric 13 has been wrapped onto the beam 11, a pair of identical flanges, indicated generally by reference numeral 14, are secured to the beam 11 close to the ends of the rolls of fabric 13, only one such flange 14 being shown in the drawings in'the in terests of simplicity and clarity. The flanges '14, each comprise a collar 15 that slidably engages the beam 11 and is secured thereto at the desired position by means of set screws 16. Extending radially from the collar 15 and secured thereto as by welding or the like are a plurality of ribs 17 provided with outwardly projecting ledges 18. The ribs 17 support between them'flange sections, indicated generally by reference numeral 19, comprising fixed flange sections 21 and movable flange sections 22. The fixed flange sections 21 are provided at their side edges with interlocking extensions 23 that overlap the ribs 17 and are secured thereto by means of screws 24. Adjacent their innermost edges, the fixed flange sections 21 are shaped to form cam surfaces 25 whose function will be described more fully hereinafter. The movable flange sections 22 are positioned on the surface of the flange 19 facing the roll of textile fabric 13 and have projecting from their innermost surfaces a plurality of parallel pins 26 that are inclined at an acute angle with respect to the innermost surface of the said movable flange'sections 22 and extend toward the roll of fabric 13. The outer edges of the movable flange sections 22 are shaped to form cam surfaces 27 whose function will be described more fully hereinafter. As shown in the drawings, the cam surfaces 25 and 27'are parallel to the pins 26. V

The movable flange sections 22 are held in place by means of a plurality of bolts 28, in threaded engagement therewith, extending through slots 29 in the fixed flange sections 21. Springs 31 encircle the said bolts 28, being held in compression between the outer surface of the fixed flange sections 21 and wing nuts 32 in threaded engagement therewith. The compression of the springs 31 tends to draw the movable flange sections 22 toward the fixed flange sections 21. Projecting outwardly from the movable flange sections 22 are'bosses 33 extending through elongated slots 34 in the fixed flange sections 21. The bosses 33 are engaged by drive mechanisms,

indicated generally by reference numeral 35, comprising screws 36 extending through and inthreaded engage.- ment with journals 37 fastened to the fixed flange sections 21 by means of bolts 38. The screws 36 carry at their ends blocks 39 that are slideably mounted. in channels 41 secured to the fixed flange sections 21 by means of screws and nuts 42. The blocks 39 are provided with lips 43 that engage the bosses 33 projecting from the movable flange sections 22.

In employing the apparatus of this invention, there is wound onto the tubular beam 11 a roll of textile fabric 13. The screws 36 are then operated to move the movable flange sections 22 radially away from the center of the flanges 19 in which position the compression springs 31 will draw the movable flange sections 22 up against the fixed flange sections 21 as shown in the lower half of Fig. 2 of the drawings. A pair of the flanges 19 are then placed on the tubular beam 11 against the roll of fabric 13 and are secured in place by tightening of the set screws 16. In this position, the pins 26 will be clear of the ends of the roll of fabric 13 as shown in the lower half of Fig. 2 of the drawings. The screws 36 are then operated to move the movable flange sections 22 radially toward the center of the flange 19. During such movement, the cam surfaces 25 and 27 will lift the movable flange sections 22 away from the fixed flange sections 21 against the compression of the springs 31. Because the cam surfaces 25 and 27 are parallel to the axes of the pins 26, the movable flange sections 22 will travel along a line parallel to the axes of the pins 26 and enter the said pins into the edges of the fabric 13. When the movable flange sections 22 have reached the limit of their movement, the pins 26 will be firmly engaged in the edges of the fabric 13 as shown in the upper half of Fig. 2 of the drawings. The processing of the fabric 13 with a fluid is then carried out, for example, by forcing the said fluid into the interior of the tubular beam 11 whereby it will flow through the perforations 12 and outwardly through the roll of textile fabric 13. Owing to the firm engagement of the edges of the fabric 13 by the pins 26 no shrinkage or movement of the said fabric will take place during the processing thereof and the said processing will be effected in a highly uniform manner. While the innermost layers of the textile fabric 13 shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing are not shown as being engaged by the pins 26, the said layers will not normally move owing to the friction between them and the remaining layers of the said fabric. However, if desired, the pins 26 may be readily lengthened or otherwise rearranged positively to engage all of the layers of the fabric 13.

The number and arrangement of the pins 26 will depend on the type of the fabric being processed, a smaller number of heavier pins being desirable for a heavier fabric. However, a wide range of fabric weights may be processed with a given arrangement of pins. The pins 26 should preferably be so disposed that the tip of one pin overlaps the base of its adjoining pin so that each layer of fabric 13 will be engaged by two pins. The inclination of the pins 26 may be varied over a considerable range, but it is preferred to have the angle between the inner surfaces of the movable flange sections 22 and the pins 26 at between about 15 and 45 degrees, or preferably at between about 25 and 30 degrees so that said pins will enter the roll of fabric 13 easily, yet engage the edges of said fabric 13 securely. The inner surfaces of the movable flange sections 22 extend parallel to the ends of the roll of fabric 13 and at right angles to the tubular beam 11.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is given merely by way of illustration and that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention what we desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A beam adapted to support a textile fabric during the processing thereof with a fluid comprising a supporting member onto which the textile fabric is wound into a roll, a flange secured to said supporting member adjacent to the end of the fabric roll, and movable means carried by said flange for positively engaging the edges of all the i layers of fabric and holding them securely while it is wound on said supporting member.

2. A beam according to claim 1, wherein said movable means includes a plurality of pins for engaging the edges of the fabric.

3. A beam according to claim 2, including means for moving said movable means in one direction to bring said pins into engagement with the edges of the fabric and holding them securely while it is wound on said supporting member and for moving said movable means in the opposite direction to withdraw said pins from engagement with the edges of the fabric.

4. A beam according to claim 2, wherein said pins are parallel to one another.

5. A beam according to claim 4, wherein said means for moving said movable means causes the latter to move along a line parallel to the pin axis.

6. A beam according to claim 4, wherein said pins are inclined at an angle of between about 15 and 45 degrees to the inner surface of the flange carried by said movable means.

7. A beam according to claim 4, wherein said pins are inclined at an acute angle to the inner surface of the flange carried by said movable means.

8. A beam according to claim 7, wherein the pins are so disposed that the tip of one pin overlaps the base of the adjoining pin whereby each layer of fabric will be engaged by at least two pins.

9. A beam adapted to support a textile fabric during the processing thereof with a fluid comprising a supporting member onto which the textile fabric is wound into a roll, a flange secured to said supporting member adjacent to the end of the fabric roll, said flange comprising a plurality of fixed flange sections, a plurality of movable flange sections, and means carried by said movable flange sections for engaging the edges of all the layers of the fabric and holding them securely while it is wound on said supporting member.

10. A beam adapted to support a textile fabric during the processing thereof with a fluid comprising a supporting member onto which the textile fabric is wound into a roll, a flange secured to said supporting member adjacent to the end of the fabric roll, said flange comprising a plurality of fixed flange sections, a plurality of movable flange sections, means carried by said movable flange sections for engaging the edges of all the layers of the fabric, and means carried by said fixed flange sections for moving said movable flange sections in one direction to bring said engaging means into engagement with the edges of the fabric and holding them securely while it is wound on said supporting member and for moving said movable flange sections in the opposite direction to withdraw said engaging means from engagement with the edges of the fabric.

11. A beam adapted to support a textile fabric during the processing thereof with a fluid comprising a supporting member onto which the textile fabric is wound into a roll, a flange secured to said supporting member adjacent to the end of the fabric roll, said flange comprising a plurality of fixed flange sections, a plurality of movable flange sections, pins carried by said movable flange sections for engaging the edges of the fabric, and means carried by said fixed flange sections for moving said movable flange sections in one direction to bring said pins into engagement with the edges of the fabric and for moving said movable flange sections in the opposite direction to withdraw said pins from engagement with the edges of the fabric.

12. A beam adapted to support a textile fabric during the processing thereof with a fluid comprising a supporting member onto which the textile fabric is wound into a roll, a flange secured to said supporting member adjacent to the end of the fabric roll, said flange comprising a plurality of fixed flange sections, a plurality of movable flange sections, a plurality of parallel pins inclined at an acute angle to the inner surface of the flange carried by said movable flange sections, the pins being so disposed that the tip of one pin overlaps the base of the adjoining pin, and means carried by said fixed flange sections for moving said movable flange sections in one direction along a line parallel to the axes of the pins to bring said pins into engagement with the edges of the fabric and for moving said movable flange sections in the opposite direction along a line parallel to the axes of the pins to withdraw said pins from engagement with the edges of the fabric.

13. A beam adapted to support a textile fabric during the processing thereof With a fluid comprising a supporting member onto which the textile fabric is wound into a roll, a flange secured to said supporting member adjacent to the end of the fabric roll, said flange comprising a plurality of fixed flange sections, a plurality of movable flange sections, a plurality of parallel pins inclined at an acute angle to the inner surface of the flange carried by said movable flange sections, the pins being so disposed that the tip of one pin overlaps the base of the adjoining pins, cam surfaces parallel to the axes of the pins, and means carried by said fixed flange sections for moving said movable flange sections in one direction whereby the cam surfaces will cause the movable flange sections to move along a line parallel to the axes of the pins to bring said pins into engagement with the edges of the fabric and for moving said movable flanges in the opposite direction whereby the cam surfaces will cause the movable flange sections to move along a line parallel to the axes of the pins to withdraw said pins from engagement with the edges of the fabric.

14. The process for treating a textile fabric which comprises Winding said textile fabric on a beam in a plurality of layers, subsequently positively engaging both edges of all the layers of the fabric for preventing shifting of said fabric during subsequent treatment, and then treating said textile fabric with a fluid.

15. The process according to claim 14, wherein each edge of each layer is positively engaged at at least two points spaced from each other in a direction parallel to the beam axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 996,761 Hebden et al.' July 4, 1911 1,825,974 Obermaier Oct. 6, 1931 2,315,532 Lucia et a1. Aug. 6, 1943 2,461,039 Debrie Feb. 8, 1949 2,498,416 Hadley Feb. 21, 1950 2,578,262 Paterson Dec. 11, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 823,116 Germany Nov. 29, 1951 700,100 Great Britain Nov. 25, 1953 

13. A BEAM ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A TEXTILE FABRIC DURING THE PROCESSING THEREOF WITH A FLUID COMPRISING A SUPPORTING MEMBER ONTO WHICH THE TEXTILE FABRIC IS WOUND INTO A ROLL, A FLANGE SECURED TO SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER ADJACENT TO THE END OF THE FABRIC ROLL, SAID FLANGE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF FIXED FLANGE SECTIONS, A PLURALITY OF MOVABLE FLANGE SECTIONS, A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL PINS INCLINED AT AN ACUTE ANGLE OT THE INNER SURFACE OF THE FLANGE CARRIED BY SAID MOVABLE FLANGE SECTIONS, THE PINS BEING SO DISPOSED THAT THE TIP OF ONE PIN OVERLAPS THE BASE OF THE AJOINING PINS, CAM SURFACES PARALLEL TO THE AXES OF THE PINS, AND MEANS CARRIED BY SAID FIXED FLANGE SECTINS FOR MOVING SAID MOVABLE FLANGE SECTIONS IN ONE DIRECTION WHEREBY THE CAM SURFACES WILL CAUSE THE MOVABLE FLANGE SECTIONS TO MOVE ALONG A LINE PARALLEL TO THE AXES OF THE PINS TO BRING SAID PINS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE EDGES OF THE FABRIC AND FOR MOVING SAID MOVABLE FLANGES IN THE OPOSITE DIRECTION WHEREBY THE CAM SURFACES WILL CAUSE THE MOVABLE FLANGE SECTIONS TO MOVE ALONG A LINE PARALLEL TO THE AXES OF THE PINS TO WITHDRAW SAID PINS FROM ENGAGEMENT WITH THE EDGES OF THE FABRIC. 